Strategic Designer

Contract

This is a IPSA-10 contract. This kind of contract is known as International Personnel Services Agreement. It is normally internationally recruited only. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about IPSA-10 contracts.

Background

Instructions to Applicants: Click on the "Apply now" button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

Travel:

UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.

Office/Unit/Project Description

The role of the Strategic Designer will be to support the development and dynamic management of portfolios under the Mayors for Economic Growth Facility and the City Experiment Fund.

The EU, in partnership with UNDP, promotes inclusive economic growth and innovation in the Local Authorities (LAs) of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries. To that end, on January 1, 2021, the new phase of the “Mayors for Economic Growth Facility” (M4EG) commenced. The project will run for 48 months. The project will support local authorities in Eastern Partnership countries to use innovative methods towards just and green development.

The overall objective of this action is to enhance economic inclusive growth and job creation in the region by supporting local authorities in the EaP countries to design and implement Local Economic Development Plans (LEDPs) in line with the principles of good governance and sound financial management.

The specific objectives of the new phase of the M4EG project are to:

1. Support local authorities in their participation to the M4EG initiative.

2. Support the preparation and implementation of local authority projects building on approved LEDPs.

During project implementation, the already established M4EG network will increase further beyond the current 400 signatories, and 12 local authorities will go through a process of portfolio development. Three funding facilities will be available to the local authorities in the network: the EU Project Fund (2021), Annual Portfolio Call (2021-2023) and M4EG Innovation Project Call (2021-2023).

The second cohort of the City Experiment Fund is working on applying a systems lens and addressing complex challenges - like braindrain, transition to carbon-neutral economic systems and lowering air pollution. These challenges are complex and interconnected, and as a result require innovative and systemic approaches to address patterns, drivers, dynamics and relationships.

To that end, UNDP is seeking a Strategic Designer to work on design of portfolios, relationship management and design of local level projects within the Mayors for Economic Growth Facility (approximately 60% of the contract) & the City Experiment Fund (approximately 40% of the contract).

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The Srategic Designer is expected to work on design of portfolios, managing relationships and preparing bankable projects for the local governments. She/he is expected to work closely with the Learning Analyst, and will support local authorities and country level teams in designing the portfolios, support capability development on complexity and system thinking for local authorities and country level teams, support development of visual representations of systems, identifying strategic positions where options/initiatives will be placed, activating the portfolio, and iteratively reviewing the process behind portfolio development to reflect the latest learning.

A. Support design and activation of portfolios through engagement with partners to enhance green and inclusive development at the local level:

1. Jointly with the learning analyst, design processes for portfolio design with the aim of engaging diverse partner and enhancing cross-sectoral collaboration, as well as work on the production of visual representations of processes and systems,
2. Design processes and support identification of system levers & strategic positions for local development and urban transformation,
3. Support local authorities, partners and UNDP COs in the design of portfolios of itnerventions – entailing development of portfolios briefs and specific initatives and/or bankable projects that will be placed within portfolios,
4. Advance the portfolio development practice in the projects and more broadly at UNDP by reflecting lessons learned from,
5. Support exploration of the impact and connection between portfolios and different financial mechanisms.

B. Develop capabilities of local authorities and partners on complexity and systems thinking:

1. Support development of capabilities of partners and others around systems thinking and complexity,
2. Organize trainings and workshop to enhance learning
3. Provide ad-hoc advice and guidance to local authorities on how system thinking can be applied in development

C. Support the M4EG Regional Project Manager and CEF lead in managing relationships with local authorities and partners working on portfolio development:

1. Support coordination between different partners during portfolio design and activation stage, ensuring that synergies are built,
2. Engage with partners and donors to share lessons learned,
3. Support the Project Manager and CEF lead in the engagement with local authorities, by creating clear messages & reflections from the learnings.

Competencies

UN CORE VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication:Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients " and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic Education

• Masters degree in development sciences, social science or environmental science, or related fields.

Min. years of relevant Work experience

• At least five years of working experience in the use of innovative mechanisms and methods in development;
• At least two (2) years of working experience with different financing mechanisms is required.
• Experience with designing at least one portfolio is required.
• Experience in leading multi-stakeholder processes in international development sector is required.
• Previous experience in integrating environmental considerations into development projects is an asset.

Required Language(s) (at working level)

• Fluency in oral and written English is required